diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/language/python.rb b/Library/Homebrew/language/python.rb
index 506865790a..b8d890e840 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/language/python.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/language/python.rb
@@ -264,14 +264,14 @@ module Language
         #   Multiline strings are allowed and treated as though they represent
         #   the contents of a `requirements.txt`.
         # @return [void]
-        def pip_install(targets)
+        def pip_install(targets, build_isolation: true)
           targets = Array(targets)
           targets.each do |t|
             if t.respond_to? :stage
-              t.stage { do_install Pathname.pwd }
+              t.stage { do_install(Pathname.pwd, build_isolation: build_isolation) }
             else
               t = t.lines.map(&:strip) if t.respond_to?(:lines) && t.include?("\n")
-              do_install t
+              do_install(t, build_isolation: build_isolation)
             end
           end
         end
@@ -281,11 +281,11 @@ module Language
         #
         # @param (see #pip_install)
         # @return (see #pip_install)
-        def pip_install_and_link(targets, link_manpages: false)
+        def pip_install_and_link(targets, link_manpages: false, build_isolation: true)
           bin_before = Dir[@venv_root/"bin/*"].to_set
           man_before = Dir[@venv_root/"share/man/man*/*"].to_set if link_manpages
 
-          pip_install(targets)
+          pip_install(targets, build_isolation: build_isolation)
 
           bin_after = Dir[@venv_root/"bin/*"].to_set
           bin_to_link = (bin_after - bin_before).to_a
@@ -301,12 +301,15 @@ module Language
 
         private
 
-        def do_install(targets)
+        def do_install(targets, build_isolation: true)
           targets = Array(targets)
-          @formula.system @venv_root/"bin/pip", "install",
-                          "-v", "--no-deps", "--no-binary", ":all:",
-                          "--use-feature=no-binary-enable-wheel-cache",
-                          "--ignore-installed", *targets
+          args = [
+            "-v", "--no-deps", "--no-binary", ":all:",
+            "--use-feature=no-binary-enable-wheel-cache",
+            "--ignore-installed"
+          ]
+          args << "--no-build-isolation" unless build_isolation
+          @formula.system @venv_root/"bin/pip", "install", *args, *targets
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/test/language/python/virtualenv_spec.rb b/Library/Homebrew/test/language/python/virtualenv_spec.rb
index 5babc4a240..f5e03653db 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/test/language/python/virtualenv_spec.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/test/language/python/virtualenv_spec.rb
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@ describe Language::Python::Virtualenv::Virtualenv, :needs_python do
 
       virtualenv.pip_install res
     end
+
+    it "works without build isolation" do
+      expect(formula).to receive(:system)
+        .with(dir/"bin/pip", "install", "-v", "--no-deps", "--no-binary", ":all:",
+              "--use-feature=no-binary-enable-wheel-cache", "--ignore-installed", "--no-build-isolation", "foo")
+        .and_return(true)
+      virtualenv.pip_install("foo", build_isolation: false)
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#pip_install_and_link" do
@@ -86,7 +94,7 @@ describe Language::Python::Virtualenv::Virtualenv, :needs_python do
       FileUtils.touch src_bin/"kilroy"
       bin_after = Dir.glob(src_bin/"*")
 
-      expect(virtualenv).to receive(:pip_install).with("foo")
+      expect(virtualenv).to receive(:pip_install).with("foo", { build_isolation: true })
       expect(Dir).to receive(:[]).with(src_bin/"*").twice.and_return(bin_before, bin_after)
 
       virtualenv.pip_install_and_link "foo"
@@ -115,7 +123,7 @@ describe Language::Python::Virtualenv::Virtualenv, :needs_python do
       FileUtils.touch src_man/"man5/kilroy.5"
       man_after = Dir.glob(src_man/"**/*")
 
-      expect(virtualenv).to receive(:pip_install).with("foo")
+      expect(virtualenv).to receive(:pip_install).with("foo", { build_isolation: true })
       expect(Dir).to receive(:[]).with(src_bin/"*").and_return([])
       expect(Dir).to receive(:[]).with(src_man/"man*/*").and_return(man_before)
       expect(Dir).to receive(:[]).with(src_bin/"*").and_return([])